Cincinnati’s Ochocinco Fined For ‘Bribe’ Skit
November 14, 2009
Cincinnati’s Ochocinco Fined For ‘Bribe’ Skit:Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chad Ochocinco has been fined $US20,000 by the NFL for another of his game time skits.
The league is less than impressed with No.85 after he sneakily flashed a one dollar note at a referee during an official replay against the Baltimore Ravens.
After catching a pass from quarterback Carson Palmer near the sideline, the “bribe” was a joking attempt to have the Ravens’ challenge that he had gone out of bounds go his side’s way.
While the play was under review Ochocinco held the note next to him, gesturing to the official.
“I was just being me,” Ochocinco told the NFL Network after the game.
“I wasn’t going to do it for real.”
Ochocinco was fined for a “threatening gesture” towards the referee and was also cited for using the word “bribe” in his post-game interview.
The NFL also reprimanded Ochocinco in an official letter.
“The very appearance of impropriety is not acceptable. Your conduct was unprofessional and unbecoming an NFL player.”
Ochocinco has never been short of controversy during his career and is well known for his extravagant touchdown celebrations.
In fact, originally Chad Johnson, he officially changed his surname during the off-season to avoid fines from the league.
It arose from one of his pranks when he wore ‘Ochocinco’ (which is 85 in Spanish – his player number) on the back of his jersey during a game.
After being slapped with a fine from the NFL, Chad vowed to officially change his name so that he could wear the jersey.
